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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
44
Features
57
Overall
49

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V Key Specs

Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Announced January 2012
Sony HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced April 2013
  • Old Model is Sony HX30V
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the HX50V (20MP) is very close and they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was introduced 15 months earlier than the HX50V making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the VS20 scores against the HX50V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony HX50V

 VS20 HX50V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Pentax VS20

 HX50V VS20 
IntroducedApril 2013January 2012More modern by 15 months
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony HX50V

 VS20 HX50V 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax VS20 comes with external dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sony HX50V has measurements of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

Compare the Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the VS20 and the HX50V.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the VS20 and HX50V is 90 and 89 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The image here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VS20 and HX50V.

Plainly, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony HX50V to result in greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged VS20 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography information
Sony HX50V Portrait photography information
36
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
50
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (272g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax VS20
Sports photography with Sony HX50V
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (400 shots)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography details
Sony HX50V Travel photography details
68
lighter than competition in class (235g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
71
great battery life (400 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (272g)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Landscape photography camera
47
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
53
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
great battery life (400 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax VS20
Vlogging with Sony HX50V
30
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
34
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (272g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of mic support
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony HX50V
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-01-25 2013-04-24
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 2920
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 2.80 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235g (0.52 lbs) 272g (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 400 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI122 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $106 $439